Events in Virginia State Parks

True Art Showcase is named in the honor of the Museum’s first curator James True the Museum's first curator.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

The story of the man who became one of the most dependable leaders in the Union Army, this program explores Wright’s early life, his engineering background, his steady personality, and the qualities that shaped his long service.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snakes that live here in our Visitor Center.

Did you know Raccoons can remember solutions to tasks and have “hands” like ours?

Walk through history by touring Sky Meadows' historic Mount Bleak House.

"Wisdom from the Wild" is a monthly series that will lead you on wonder-filled journey to recovering your sense of belonging and finding your truest self, rooted in the rhythms and raptures of nature.

Nature journaling is the intersection of art, science, and curiosity.

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

Come join us for Women's History Month to learn about the historical figures who helped shape the Widewater Peninsula.  Margaret Brent - English colonist, Catholic landowner, attorney - An unmarried woman who moved to the colonies, and stayed unwed, was strange enough.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing or difficult?

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Ever heard of a seed bomb?

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

"A small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can indeed change the world." - Margaret Meade, Anthropologist Do you have a passion for teaching and being outdoors?

Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.  This easy hike will take visitors through our park's deciduous woodlands along the river granting an opportunity to see some of the New River’s native wildflowers and trees in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! Please wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water and snacks.

 Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools.  These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Birds are singing, trees are leafing out, signs of a new season are "spring" ing up everywhere.  Join park interpreters for a 1-mile loop walk starting at High Point Trailhead, near the picnic area, and learn how to observe seasonal changes using your senses to better understand our natural world. We will walk down High Point Trail and around Dogue Trail and back to the picnic area. Sturdy shoes and water are recommended. .

When it comes to carrying survival materials with you on the trail, every little bit of space counts, so hikers come up with creative ways to carry their gear.

Celebrate International Woman’s Day at Natural Tunnel State Park.

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

Nora Cox has been a Virginia Master Naturalist for about 20 years and is a member of the Central Virginia Chapter in Lynchburg, VA.

Gather by the campfire with us to celebrate and recognize the women who have shaped Virginia State Parks for International Women’s Day.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?  The Tyke Hike is the perfect fit for little legs.  The hikes are less than a mile and mostly stroller friendly.  The ranger will help your little one discover neat things in nature in this one hour adventure.

Spring brings about lots of change in our natural world.

Witness the amphibian life cycle and see aquatic invertebrates up-close when you join us in this partnership program with our local Central Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists (CPVMN).

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Join us for “Hoppin’ into Spring: A Bunny Vase Workshop” Celebrate the season with a fun, eco-friendly craft!

Come join the monthly meeting of the Widewater State Park Friend's Group!

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce upcoming grafting workshops in collaboration with the Wise County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

"Beavers:  Nature's Engineers" examines the characteristics and habits of North America's largest rodent.  Learn about how beavers alter the environment more than any other creature except humans.  Find out how beavers contributed to the westward expansion as settlers arrived in the New World.  Following a short lecture about the beaver and a few "local stories", a beautiful movie will follow the life of a pair of beaver's lives throughout a year-long period.  Various items, including a beaver skull, pelt, and examples of wood cuttings, will be displayed.  A special gift will be given to all children who attend the program.

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Learn about their characteristics, habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much more.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce upcoming grafting workshops in collaboration with the Wise County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

Leave No Trace principles not only apply to you, but also your dog.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is thrilled to announce the spring semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program!

Time to polish your beginner or advanced identification skills for the local fauna of Virginia.

Did you know Raccoons can remember solutions to tasks and have “hands” like ours?

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Is it a bobcat or a coyote?

Let your Friday afternoons be filled with natural  and historical wonders.  Join us for a closer look at some of the interesting things about our ecosystem and region.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

In early spring, Virginia's tiny delicate woodland wildflowers make their appearance!

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Come join the party!

Join DCR, First Landing State Park, and DAVID USUI: Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer for a free screening of Been Here Stay Here.

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

Step back in time as we uncover some of the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery.

Start off your weekend off right with s’mores and more! Join our rangers in a welcome campfire at the Outdoor Classroom behind the Discovery Center each Friday this month, where you can learn more about the wildlife and fossils that we have here in our park. Whether you want to learn more about Westmoreland, or you just want to hang out and eat s’mores, you know where to find us! Dress appropriately for the weather on the day of the event and bring water. .

The story of a man wrapped in legend, contradiction, and unanswered questions, this program invites visitors to explore the puzzling personality of Richard Anderson Ewell, a commander whose reputation has shifted, stretched, and sparked debate for more than a century.

If you love working outdoors and meeting new and interesting people, you won’t want to miss our annual Volunteer Kickoff at Powhatan State Park!

Event Registration is full!

Looking for a way to give back to nature and enjoy the outdoors?

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

This program will train guests to focus on the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and enhance their awareness of the mind-body connection.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Join the rangers to give back a bit of your time and help maintain the beauty of York River.

Flying nearly 3,000 miles in migration, butterflies are seemingly delicate creatures that are true examples of nature’s awe inspiring beauty and determination.

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Discover the colorful world of butterflies at Twin Lakes State Park!

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

Step out on the trail to search for springtime renewal.

Join us for a guided Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience March—a month of transformation.

The appearance of frogs and salamanders is a sure sign of spring.

Celebrate an American icon at Caledon, where the bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River.

Celebrate National Learn About Butterflies Day with First Landing State Park Rangers and the Butterfly Society of Virginia.

Come join our Rangers in celebrating the Highland Maple Festival!

Walk through history by touring Sky Meadows' historic Mount Bleak House.

Did you know that Westmoreland is one of the original State Parks in Virginia?

Just as visitors begin to return to our park in the spring, so do spring ephemerals.

Join a park interpreter on a scavenger hunt along one of our less explored trails to find all of the colors, shapes, and sizes that are found in nature.

Go back in time in the historic village of Foster Falls.

What better way to celebrate St.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

It's Learn About Butterflies Day! Not only are butterflies beautiful but they also play an important role in our ecosystems.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Pi might go on forever, but our trails don't.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

This popular activity gives you the chance to glean the makings of a s'more while enjoying a geocaching adventure.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Step inside the Discovery Center to learn from a park ranger about local wildlife, the park's history, and the New River! All ages welcome.

Join the rangers on a hunt for three of James River's 14 geocaches.

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of vernal pools.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.